The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-09-29

J "Why, that this Mr.. Forrest must
have seen the notice, and KEEP it to
himself, thinking that perhaps he could
wheedle you out of the bag for little or
nothing, and then get big reward for
returnin' it, replied Miss Smith, with
triumphant snap of her gray eyes.
81 think there's more to it than that,
Miss Smith," said Tad, rising to his
feet. 81 think he's the same fellow
who tried so hard to get hold of it in
Boston. You see, ma'am," continued
Tad. meekly, 81 amt so quick as some,
but I've studied it out kind of like this.
He somehow found out, in the first
place, that the tall gentleman who
owns it had jewelry, or whatever it is,
worth ever so much money in his sach-
ell, and just followed on after him to
get a chance TO grab it. Then 1 got
hold of it, and ever since he's been
doggin' me. He's got a mustache,
and bran'-new teeth, and his voice is 2
little different; but this afternoon 1
found out something that makes me
pretty sure I'm right" And then Tad
told Miss Smith about the little blue
scar, that he had so unexpectedly dis
| covered.
"Well, Tad" observed Miss Smith,
after short astOnished pause, ''you're
a smarter boy than 1 ever thought you
was, I'm free to confess. The-the-
deceptive critterr' And, for moment
or two, it really seemed as though Miss
Smith was determined to sally forth,
and, single-handed, capture Mr.. For
rest, and drag him into the presence of
"Square" Martin, the Bixport justice
of the peace. there to denounce him as
fraud of the first water.
But, upon cooler reflection, she saw
that. in reality, there was no visible
proof of any such charge, further than
Tad's own word. Even Captain Flagg
or Polly would hardly have recognized,
in the elegantly-dressed gentleman
with silky black mustache, the smooth
faced, shabby sharper who had tried
unsuccessfully to steal Captain Flagg's
money and papers on Commercial
wharf.
"Give a rogue rope enough, and he's
sure to hang himself; so guess we
won't say any thing for a spell
longer" finally said Miss Smith, to
Tad's great qualification.
But the good lady Immediately sat
down and wrote letter to u. II. A"
in relation to the sachel. and after
ward posted it with her own hands.
Furthermore, she had new lock put
on each of the outer doors, and even
went so far as to have Tad clean and
load an old flint-lock musket that had
done good service at Bunker Hill,
which, to Samantha Nason's great
horror, she kept standing at the head
of her bed.
81 feel it in my bones that the fell
low'n make one more trial for that
sachel." she said, oracularly, 'for he
knows that what's in it is well worth
runnin' big risk for; but, if he's
aware when he's well off, he better
keep awayr'
Three days passed, and then Miss
Smith received an answer, to the effect
that 81. H. A. would be in Bixport on
the following day, and would do him.
self the honor of calling upon Miss
Smith, at her residence, in the even
ing.
Things is coming to climax. Tad"
said Miss Smith, carefully tucking the
letter away in pigeon-hole of the old
fashioned secretary in the front sitting
room, "and 1 guess you'll get your five
hundred dollars reward, after all, and
Edwards. or whatever his name is, will
have his trouble for his palms.
Five hundred dollars! Tad turned
from red to white. and white to red
again. He thought to himself that
when he held the money in his
hands he would believe it, but not till
then!
The sachel had been placed in a sec
rotary drawer for safe keeping. Miss
Smith unlocked the drawer, to make
sure that it Oas safe. Then she held it |
thoughtfully up by the handle.
I'm free to confess I'm dretful curl
Gus to know what's inside" she re-
marked. as she held it at her ear, and |
shook it vigorously. There's papers,
for one thing-I hear 'em rustle-and |
something like a box" she continued;
"but never mind, Tad-we'n know all |
about it tomorrow night" Thus say
ing, she replaced the sachel. locked the
drawer and dropped the key into her
pocket, happily unconscious that a |
sharp pair of eyes-whose owner was
hidden from the view of any chance |
passer-by by thick clump of lilacs be-
fore the house-had been watching her !.
every movement from without, through |
the half-closed blinds.
CHAPTER XIII
The curtains were pulled down, the
big kerosene-lamp lighted. and Miss
Smith, at the head of the dining-room
table, was pouring out the tea, on the |
evening when the arrival of j. II. A.
was expected.
81 s'pose the stage'n be late; it |
always is when there's any thing of inn
portance on hand" observed Miss
Smith, glancing disconsolately at the
pale-faced clock, whose hands pointed |
to the hour of seven.
"Dear me, 1 hope notr' said Mrs.
Mason; ''for. to tell the truth, ever
since l heard about Tad and the mys-
FERROUS sachel, have been fairly de-
vOurnd with our;OS;+xr 70 l,o,,, -, ao,